During my 3 days of rest in Leh, I was introduced to Tin Tin. I enjoyed my first episode of Tin Tin in Tibet.
Actually, prior to reading my first Tin Tin. I read on the papers that 2 mega movie director-Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg will collaborate to produce movie on Tin Tin. Supposedly they had already selected the series. I hope the Tibet series will be made into a film. Mountains, adventure, loyalty to friend. Sounds appealing to me.
Yah, we also had quite a bit of adventure on our 4WD journey.
First, besides the driver and the 3 of us, we have other passengers. They are from the Indian Army. So at 0130hrs, we made our way to their army camp to pick them up. At the gate, the driver was denial entry. After like 20mins of talking, explaining and phonecalls, he return to us with one other moustache guy. This time, we were allowed to drive into the camp to pick up the rest from their living quarter.
There are so many of them, we really wonder how many are just onlookers and how many will be our fellow passengers. Also, their luggage was enormous. Later on, as I found out, they have received now posting. And hence the size of their luggage.
As I was in the semi-unconscious state, I couldn't fully recalled all the details. Next thing I know, there was an empty jeep parked next to ours and the 2 drivers are transferring the luggage from the top of our jeep to the young drivers. I get the message now: our vehicle has broken down, we're getting on another jeep.
While they're doing the loading, 2 other jeep appears. These jeeps are almost vacant.
When the moving is done, we were split into 3 jeeps unevenly. With me was Fang and Suat. Suat, not wanting to squeeze in the front row with Fang, moved to the back row. Due to the design of most jeep, the last row tends to be the bumpiest. I suppose she preferred a bumpy but spacious seat. And we journey on.
I've yet to speak a word to our Indian friends but I've already acquainted myself with them, physically literally.
As I dived deeper into sleep, my body starts to curl sideways, with my head planted on the shoulder of my Indian friend.
I realised that but the position was so comfortable that i just couldn't summon the energy to adjust my head away from him. Honestly, I've never rested my head on a shoulder as solid and as comfortable like his. Not once did he fidget or wake me up to move away.
Mountains...roads...blackout...snow...mountains...blackout...roads....
This is what I remember for the next few hours until we stopped for breakfast at Pang.
The locals cleverly make use of unused cargo parachutes to recycle them into makeshift tents. There were about 8-10 tents in total. Each tent is a kitchen cum dining area. Further inside is what seems like a room with bed and blankets. I suppose that would be the owners living quarter.
When the road closes every year in Aug/Sep, I think the tents would be packed and the owners returned to their home or some other placed for business or trading.
We arrived in Manali at 2000hrs, that makes the total journey 18 hrs.
We were full of anxiety. Manali is a new place and a busy one. This is the trekking season, many Indians made their way to this popular mountainous state. With all our bearing still in a state of uncertainty, we spot a restaurant, went in and decide to take dinner before hunting for accommodation. The streets were busy, we wonder if there's available accommodation.
We checked into Hotel Seagull for the first night. For 900rs/night, we find the condition of our room unjustifiable. SO the next morning, we moved to Johnson Hotel, slightly up-market but value for money. The hotel resembles Changi Chalets. On the ground floor with balcony overlooking a field.
I spent 1 hour or so checking out the trekking options available . Most of the office are not very enthusiastic to answer queries. Some are open but not manned. A few companies quoted USD50 per pax per day for a 5 days trek. I was about to give up asking when we arrived at the office of Mountain Expedition. I was shocked when they asked for 100rp (USD 25) per day per pax.
Mountain Expedition
Every year during the trekking season, the company set up temporary campsite that lasted thru the trekking season. Campsites are complete with sleeping tents and sleeping bags, Kitchen (fully equipped with cooking pots, stoves etc.)
With such a clever arrangement, all we need is a guide to show us the way. There's no need to carry tents and food nor do we need to hire horseman(and their horses) or porters to help us.,
We bargain further, out trekking cost us 800rp (20USD) per pax per day. What a steal.
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